CES Report - ASUS

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Introduction

Showcased by none other than our own Dave and Marco, we see the upcoming refresh of the ASUS Lamborghini VX1 notebook which we previously reviewed with positive results. This new system addresses all of the minor gripes we had with the previous model, setting the stage for what should truly be a stunning piece of hardware. Although there are some significant changes, one can clearly see that the loud yellow color which is synonymous with Lamborghini will be retained for the new model.

Opening the lid of the latest version of the Lamborghini VX1, we see that the aesthetics of the system have undergone a major facelift. Gone is the somewhat bland appearance of the previous model with a rich leather palmrest with yellow piping taking its place. Golden accents and a biometric fingerprint reader add to the luxurious finish of the latest incarnation of the Lamborghini notebook.

Although we'll refrain from showcasing all of the secrets and new additions of the latest Lamborghini notebook, we were compelled to share the unique badging the new model will feature. In place of a generic badge, the system has a replica Lamborghini wheel with a surprising amount of detail.

One look at the new S6F luxury notebooks and the significant other in your life will have a drastically different view of PC's. Equipped with a leather palmrest and matching accents through the system, the notebook offers an aesthetic that is unmatched anywhere else in the industry.

One system which has made more than its fair share of noise as of late here at CES is the W5Fe notebook. This Vista-capable notebook is the first system to offer Microsoft's new SideShow supplemental display. Regardless of whether the system is on or not, users can get access to emails, music, and more by navigating through options on the secondary display on the outside of the system.

One of the most impressive new systems at the ASUS booth would have to be the ultraportable U1 notebook. Offering a widescreen LCD, biometric security, and weighing a scant 2.2lbs with battery this new system is ideal for the mobile user who is traveling often.

One of the most unique new products we've seen at CES would have to be the XG station by ASUS. Essentially, this is a breakout box using the ExpressCard slot on a notebook which allows users to utilize desktop components to dramatically improve the performance of their mobile system. Initially, the XG station will come bundled with a GeForce 7900 GS though there is nothing preventing ASUS from offering other cards so long as they physically fit within the casing. Given the flexibility of the ExpressCard slot, other peripherals such as discrete sound cards and even physics cards can be used to further raise the performance levels of the system.

Although few will complain about the performance levels of a stock GeForce 8800 GTX, ASUS has seen fit to watercool the flagship NVIDIA card and raise frequencies to offer exceptional performance. Using a cooling system developed by Thermaltake, this extremely limited edition card offers temperatures which are a minimum of 12 degrees Celsius cooler than NVIDIA's own reference design. The additional cooling headroom allows ASUS to raise core frequencies up to 630MHz and boost the memory speed up to an impressive 2.06GHz.

Building upon the success of the Striker series of motherboards, ASUS is releasing the new Commando series. Built around the Intel 965 chipset, this new motherboard is designed to offer excellent overclocking features and functionality which should result in some unbelievable success stories for overclocking enthusiasts. In addition, the Commando shares the same features as the Stryker series including the back panel display, intricate cooling solution, and stellar bundle.

Overall, ASUS one one of the few vendors which was showcasing something exciting this year at CES. Keep watching this space for more updates from the expo floor as well as a wrap-up illustrating the highlights from this year's show once things wrap-up.